May 3, 2007

Arctic Monkeys

"Favourite Worst Nightmare"; Domino Recording Co.

3 ˝ stars

Overhyped to overnight success in its native England, the cheeky rock quartet racked up the biggest-selling debut in U.K. history with last year's "Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not." The Arctic Monkeys received a cooler reception here, but not because their music lacked the pizazz to match the buzz.

With the surprise factor gone, "Nightmare" can't quite live up to the splash of its predecessor, yet it quakes and shimmers just as vividly with hard-charging guitars, stinging wit and tireless thrust on a dozen tracks that rush by in roughly 40 minutes. On song after song, hyperactive cleverness and sonic verve intersect in heady tunes spiked with unexpected touches from ska and metal to funk and psychedelia.

Alex Turner's signature insolence gets tiresome in spots, so it's encouraging to discover wisdom, empathy and vulnerability creeping into his poetic gambols, whether he's mocking hipsters who revere a past they never experienced on "Old Yellow Bricks" or gently unveiling the gullibility of new romance in the ballad "Only Ones Who Know."

With this follow-up, the Monkeys solidify their status as the band to beat in the flowering British rock scene. And The Strokes might want to watch their rearview.

- Recommended if you like: The Fratellis; Libertines; The Jam

-- Edna Gundersen, USA Today

Kings of Leon

"Because of the Times"; RCA

2 ˝ stars

Somewhere between 2005's "Aha Shake Heartbreak" and now, Southern rockers Kings of Leon decided to expand its sound, which had been rooted in tight, controlled bursts of fuzzed-out guitar rock.

On "Because of the Times" that expansion and experimentation results in the drifting 7-minute opener "Knocked Up." It also produces a more fattened and ritarded (not retarded) sound. But on the whole, it seems less focused and it meanders at times. Could be that touring with U2, Pearl Jam and Bob Dylan instilled a more grandiose objective in their minds.

Singer Caleb Folowill's drawl is just as incomprehensible as ever, but you can bet they're often singing about the women they meet, and there are some fine moments.

"My Party" recalls the rousing fun of the last two albums, and the band effects hooky soul-singer choruses in the background. Kings explores the fringes of their sound on such songs as the blistering "Charmer," which sounds like a track the Pixies forgot to record, and "Trunk," reminiscent of the Doors' "Riders on the Storm."

No matter the results at home in the States, which have been limited to a simmer, the Kings can take pride in being a European smash -- and they do on "Fans," singing "All of London sing, Because England swings and they sure love the tales I bring, those raining days they ain't so bad when you're the king."

What's frustrating about this album is that it's not instantly likeable. One must spend a lot of time on it for it to reveal its finer qualities.

- RIYL: Black Crowes; Lynyrd Skynyrd; The Strokes

-- Jason Kellner, Reno Gazette-Journal

Prosser

"Prosser"; Clickpop Records

3 stars

Former space-rocker Eric Woodruff started these recordings in 2003 in his basement in Bellingham, Wash., playing all the instruments himself, except for a bit of cello added by a friend. A couple years later, Woodruff reworked it into the current album: a well-wrought collection of purling melodies, pretty-but-robust harmonies and slightly countrified indie-folk songcraft. Combining gentle sun-goes-down vibes and fleeting reverie, the lineup maintains a contemplative flow, although a couple of the 14 tracks create a drag toward the middle and should have been omitted. Woodruff has a knack for little touches and graceful blends of acoustic picking, swooping electric guitar and, say, organ. He also sings with a chameleon quality that makes him reminiscent of a half-dozen different singers at odd moments, including Billy Corgan, Elliott Smith, Kurt Cobain, Damon Albarn, among others.

- RIYL: Wilco; Bright Eyes; Rosebuds

-- Jeff Gifford, Reno Gazette-Journal

Various artists

"Death Proof" soundtrack

Maverick

3 stars

Another good Quentin Tarantino soundtrack that fans will want. It's got all of his trademarks: Profane snippets of dialogue, obscure but classic film cues, a few nuggets by mainstream artists, and some oddball rarities that become favorites. A solid listen top to bottom.

The nugget I love is "Down in Mexico" -- did the Coasters ever make a song that wasn't great? The funk-soul reading of "Baby, It's You" by Smith is a keeper. As for oddballs, April March's goofy pop "Chick Habit" is this soundtrack's equivalent of "Kill Bill's" "Woo-Hoo" by the 5, 6, 7, 8's.

- RIYL: early '70s soul; "Jackie Brown" soundtrack

-- Mark Robison, Reno Gazette-Journal

Sly & The Family Stone

Seven album reissue collection; Epic/Legacy

2 1/2 stars

There's no question Sly & The Family Stone broke new ground when they blasted out of the San Francisco Bay Area in 1967 with their heavy melange of R&B-funk, soul-rock and psychedelia.

And the seven-CD collection, released in late March as independent titles, adequately chronicles the band's development from a funky band on a mission to break the mold and expectations of a mostly black aggregation to the icon of individualism that became a hallmark.

From the seminal "A Whole New Thing" to the milestone "Stand!" and "Dance to the Music," Sly and Family Stone show evolution, given some depth on the reissues with the inclusion of previously unreleased tracks.

Some of those bonus tracks don't elevate the albums to a higher plane, but are more collectors' bounty for avid Stone-philes. There are some things missing from this collection that would seem to be staples for true fans, especially as bonus tracks. Hits like "Hot Fun In the Summertime" and "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)" would have worked better as bonus tracks, as they were released as bonus singles to help promote "There's a Riot Going On," but they're not here.

To be sure, there are several greatest-hits packages that cover the epic story arc that was Sylvester Stewart's ebb and flow in the fast track and glare of pop life. There are more concise packages that just give the high and low lights.

And for those looking for that quickie Family fix, go to Amazon.com for a hits disc.

For those looking for the story arc of exhilaration and plummeting sadness, you can collect these albums for a complete portrait.